Chapter 5

I calmly looked away, packed my laptop and papers into my bag, and left through a different exit.

I didn't glance back at either of them the whole way out.

That night, someone posted a photo on a popular campus forum thread, a candid shot of me studying in the library, head down, completely absorbed in my book.

The caption gushed: [There's something about a guy who studies this hard. Anyone know what class he's from? Is he single?]

Someone else replied underneath with my class and my name.

I happened to see it and replied without thinking much of it.

[Thanks, but I'm focused on school right now. No other plans.]

Somehow that one reply struck a nerve with Lisa.

She got a new number and sent me a message, her tone carrying that same lecturing, placating edge she always fell back on.

"Had enough yet? I saw what you posted on the forum. Let's cut it out and actually talk about winter break. My mom's asked about you a few times, and she wants us to come home together and visit."

She was still planning on the two of us going home together to meet the family.

I checked every social platform to confirm she was still blocked everywhere, then blocked the new number too, without a second thought.

The next day, I headed to the classroom building for an elective.

The moment I stepped out of the room, Lisa cut me off around the corner in the hallway.

She frowned, her expression tight. "Adam, you blocked every single way I could reach you?"

"What did you expect?" I looked at her, unbothered. "We're exes. Why would we need to stay in close contact?"

"Exes?" She said it like she'd just heard a joke. "You're really going to blow up one cup of milk, one little disagreement, into all of this? Come on, Adam, stop it. You know that's not what I meant."

She paused, then pulled a brand-new textbook out of her bag and held it out to me.

"You mentioned wanting this a while back. It's out of print, hard to find, so I had someone track down a copy for me.

"Graduate school applications are coming up soon, studying alone has to be stressful. Don't push yourself too hard. Did you finish your registration for it? Don't miss the deadline."

She still thought I was gearing up for the exam, still thought this small kindness of hers might be enough to win me back.

I looked at the book in her hand and just found the whole thing absurd.

That's when Freddy's voice cut in out of nowhere, thick with obvious frustration. "Lisa! There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

He hurried over, practically pressing himself right up against her, and stomped his foot.

"You promised you'd look over my speech for the student government election by lunch today! Do you know what time it is? Did you even read it at all? I'm freaking out here! Did you just forget about me the second you got Adam back in the picture?"

As he said it, he shot me a pointed, challenging look.

He had that same needy, wounded act going, like Lisa was the only thing keeping him afloat.

A flicker of embarrassment and impatience crossed Lisa's face, but out of habit, she smoothed things over with him first.

"Okay, okay, I'll look at it in a bit. Just relax."

Then she turned back to me, her eyes searching my face like she was hoping to catch some trace of jealousy or anger there.

I said, flat and unbothered, "Go help him."

Lisa blinked, caught off guard. It clearly wasn't the reaction she'd been waiting for.

She tried to explain. "Adam, this election really matters to him. I'm just doing him a favor. You know how it is, his family and mine..."

"I know," I cut her off. "You're responsible for taking care of him. You're 'family'. Go on, don't keep him waiting."